davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Two Good Girls.

There is girl, and | love to think
of her and talk of her, who comes in
late when there is company, who
wears pretty little air of mingled re-
sponsiblity and anxiety with her
youth, whom the others seem to depend
on and look to for many comforts.
She is the girl who helps mother. In
her own room she a blessed little saint
and comforter. She takes unfinished
tasks from her tired and stiff fingers
that falter at their work; her strong
young figure is staff upon which the
grayhaired, white-faced mother leans
and is rested. She helps mother with
the spring sewing, with the weeks
mending, with cheerful conversation
and coDgenial cOmpanionship that some
girls do not think worth while wasting
on only mother. And when there
comes day when she must bend, as
girls must often bend over the old
wornout body of mother lying unheed-
fui in her coffin, rough hands folded,
her long disquiet merged in rest, some
thing very sweet will be mingled with
her loss, and the girl who helped
mother will find a benediction OF
peace upon her head and in her heart.
The girl who works-God bless her.
is another girl whom [ know. She
is brave and active. She is mot too
proud to earn her own living, or
ashamed to be caught at her daily task.
She is studious, and pains-taking, and
patient. She smiles at you from be-
hind counter and desk. There is a
memory of her sewn into each silken
gown. She is like a beautiful young
mountaineer already far up the hill, and
the sight of her should be a fine inspira-
ton for US all. 1t is an honor to know
this girl-to be worthy OF her regard.
Her hand may be stained with factory
grease or printers ink, but it is an
honest hand and helping hand. 1t
stays misfortune from many homes; it
is the one shield that protects many a
forlorn little family from the aims
house and asylum. Cathariaae Cole.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
The Revenge of q Bad Boy.

& story comes to me that for fen,
ishncss and innate deviltry has seldO
been equaled in the annals of reveng
full proceedings. There is III this CT
a small boy. rot more than 10 years
age, whose indulgent mother kee
him we'll supplied with pocket mon
This young man opened an acco
with local savings bank some t
ago, and on the LIST of April he had
deposit there about $50. Two
three days later he had -falling-C
with the teller of the institution. Fol
nearly week he tried to think up some
method for settling the score, and at
last he hit upon plan that would have
done credit to COmanche Indian.
He went to the bank and drew out $50
from his store. Then he went over to
the Treasury building, which is across
the street, and had his three items"
converted into thirty zones" Next he
proceeded to make out thirty deposit
slips, each for 81. These he carried to
the bank, one at time, compelling
the Door teller to make thirty separate
entries in his books. The following
day this young fiend again drew out
$50. Again he visited the Treasury,
but this time he had his money changed
into silver quarters, bright from the
mint. One hundred and twenty de-
post tickets were then prepared, and
a corresponding numbcr OF entries had
to be made in that unfortunate teller's
bio books Then for three days an
armistice was declared, but at the end
OF that time $50 was again drawn out,
and this time when the boy visited the
Treasury building it was dimes that he
wanted The regulation slips were
prepared once more, and the teller
gritted his teeth when he saw that he
was again to be made the victim OF
that boys vindictiveness. At last the
800 dimes were all in the bank, and
the young villain prepared to reduce the
store of his wealth to nickels, but he
was notified that the bank would insist
upon the thirty days notice allowed by
law, and for time the teller rests
Washington Letter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Street of Tombs.

An interesting discovery has recent
ly been made in the direct line between
Pompeli and Nocera. The digging of
a well IN 4 vineyard revealed the OK
lstence of II street of tombs, about one
thousand feet east of the amphitheatcr
OF Pompeii. If the whole street is as
closely lined with tombs rs is the por-
ton laid bare, it will be ono of the
most Important discoveries lately made
III that part of the world, but. unfortu-
nately, money is wanting, so that the
excavation is going on very slowly
Most of the tombs are covered with
rude inscriptions painted in red, many
OF them being in the nature of adver-
tisements, the tombs thus serving the
purpose of newspaper along the
much-frequented road. The exact
date has not yet been accurately as
certalned, but they probably belong
to the period of Julius Cesar and
1lberiuS. a contrast NAV be drawn
between the condition ut Pompeii and
that OF Pergamon. which, although
double the size of Pompeii. has,
thanks to the PruSsian government.
been laid clear within eight years. In
the latter beautiful, tinely-painted
statues, votiye offerings to Athena,
and belonging to the sixth century, b.
c., having been found buried in earth
and literally forming the foundation
of the houses above. Their style of
art is one hitherto not supposed posi-
bic at so remote period, and they
cause the ruins of Pompeu to appear
quite modern. The discovery of an
aqueduct which probably dates back
to the time of King Solomon, is re-
ported from Jerusalem, and it is con-
tidently anticipated that the further
excavation of it will bring to light
some extremely interesting and yalua-
ele inscriptions.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Rope, Trough, Water, Fire.

There were three principal kinds of
torture inflicted by the inquisition-
the rope, the trough, and water and
fire, writes John Burnley. In the first,
the hands of the accused were tied be-
hind his back, and then a rope was
fastened to the wrists, and by this
rope and pully he was raised into the
air to q considerable hight; and after
being held suspended for time, he
was suddenly let fall to within about
a half-foot of the ground, the sudden
stop giving him jolt that dislocated
his joints and caused him to utter the
most piercing cries of anguish. And
this was repeated as often as the doctor
of the inquisition said the man could
stand it. To intensity the horrors of
the sutferings, the torture was inflicted
in iurid subterranean vault in the
presence of persons completely masked
in black. If the victim would not
yield to the rope, the water torture
was tried. A large piece of timber,
followed out like trough, had a
sharp iron bar across it. The prisoner
was placed in the trough, with this bar
under his back and his head and feet
were fastened down by cords to the
ends of the trough. The presence of
the bar and the tightness of the cords
caused the person to experience mex
pressible agony. But this was not all.
They stopped up his nostrils, and,
placing a piece of linen cloth over his
mouth, which he was obliged to keep
open, they poured a stream of water
upon it from a considerable hight.
This forced the cloth deep into the
throat of the sufferer and cut off his
breath. When he was nearly dead his
torturers rested from their inhuman
work for some time to give him a
chance to revive, and then went at
him again, renewing the dose every
time the doctor said he could stand it.
The torture by fire was the most horri-
bic. A fierce fire was built and the
prisoners feet, anointed with lard and
other penetrating substances, were
held close to the flames. The pain
was frightful. 1t often drove prisoners
to confessions that were simply lies,
and after the confession came the
auto-da-fe, dozens of victims being led
to the funeral pyres and burned in the
presence Of q holiday throng. The
inquisition ceased to exist in France
in 1889, in Germany in 1854, in
Austria in 1776, and in Sweden in
1886. In 1882 forty-eight gypsies were
put to the rack in Hungary on an un-
founded charge Of cannibalism.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
III. Rider Haggard.

Those who are fond of trying
to read character in handwriting
would be apt to set down the author
of king Solomon's Mines and ssShe''
as man of good deal of force of
mind and of Il straightforward, hearty,
wholesouled way of doing things.
Mr.. Haggard is young man. He
is but 81 and therefore, unless he has
exhausted his store of invention, the
public may look forward to a good
many more exciting narratives from
him. His information regarding South
African scenes and native character
was gathered at first hand. For when
only 10 Mr.. Haggard accompanied Sir
Henry Bulwer to Natal; and during the
two succeeding years he served on the
staff of Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the
special commissioner to the Transvaal
He withdrew from the colonial service
in 1879. and, returning to London and
marrying the only daughter of the late
Maj. Margitson, of buckingham house,
Norfolk, became practicin@ barrister
of Lincoln's inn.
Mr.. Haggard's first book was of Il
political character, and, coming from
etL uhhuON1 NIlICI. dIjldClSu llIttt
attention. 1t related to recent events
in South Africa, and was published in
1882. Two Years later he published
'.Dawn," and year after The Witch's
Head" both stories of adventure. They
caused not much comment. Dawn"
was rather crude, but The Witch's
head" indicated that the power to write
stirring story for boys lay in the
author. In the autumn of 1885 this
power was revealed when King Sol
onions Mines was published, a book
that was highly praised by the critics
and that immediately acquired a large
popularity. The presence of new
force in fiction was recognized, force
that brought freshness of method and
great yigor and virility of treatment to
the development of an old idea-the
hazardous search for hidden treasure,
which was nothing less than the
diamond mines from which King Sol
ONION was supposed to have got his
jewels. Such story of daring adven-
ture, however, in which the interest
was not only maintained but was in
creased from the beginning to the end,
was well-nigh unique, though it by no
means represented the highest form of
romance.
Writing of this story, which made
him famous, Mr.. Haggard says: liking
Solomon's Mines" was written as an
experiment in boys books. 1t would
be impossible for me to define where
fact ends and fiction begins in the work,
as the two are very mixed together. l
may add that its success was quite I'M
expected by me as the work, under
taken at haphazard, was carried out
at odd hours, for the most part, after a
long day at chambers. Mr.. Haggard
adds that he has received up to date
(March 20), the sum of Els los. on
account of the American sale of this
book. of which 910 came from Messrs.
Harper & Brothers.
''She" was published last December,
and ''Jess" came out last March, both
showing that there was apparently no
abatement of Mr.. Haggard's invention,
originality, ingenuity, and magma
ton in the art of telling a story of
vivid and thrilling interest. -Book-
BUyer
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Russian BTOnZeS.

The Russian sculptor cares nothing
for nymphs and naiads, or classic mud
tiles of any kind. The graceful treat
ment of drapery and the sensuous
sweep of contour are nothing to him.
He never aspires to classical ideals,
draped or undraped, and therefore has
no need for severity of form or an eX-
haustive knowledge of anatomy. The
customs and costume of his country
are with him in all this. The primary
instinct of his race still clings to the
Russian artist; and in sculpture, as in
painting, he is most at home IN treat
inc incidents of the chase OF the battle
field. In such themes his love of de-
tail differentiates him from the sculpt-
ors of the west, and his delight is in
absolute realism. From swords to
spears. from spears to buttons and
straps, every detail about man or
beast is rendered with religious ex-
actitude. Here, for example, in Graf
choff7s Before the Battle" we see q
mounted Cossack, terrible in aspect,
with his sabre in his mouth, a pistol in
one hand, and rifle in the other,
straining eagerly toward the enemy,
as his horse plunges along. In this
group the minutie of the mans uni
form and the trappings of his steed
are most faithfully rendered. This
comes out all the more forcibly when
we turn to the companion group,
called After the Battle" which rep
resents the same trooper returning
with the spolia opima, and leading his
enemys horse, which neighs for the
| loss of his master. The same remark
applies to the artists '.Cossack's Fare
well, in which we see him stoopin 9
| down from the saddle to kiss his wife.
| In the Return" the Cossack has dis
mounted and kisses his wife, while the
horse neighs as he recognizes his APP
proach to home. No less true and
| spirited are Prof. Lieberich's .'Woli
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
The Proud Mother.

Not only do the descendants of Am
orleans who came over in the May
flower or those who signed the Decla-
ration CT Independence pride them
selves on their descent, but members
of families that have lived respectable
and unknown are quite satisfied as to
the high social position of themselves
and their ancestors. The bearer of an
illustrious surname quite properly
looks upon the record of some local
achievement, rather than the names
worldwide significance, as the source
of family pride. In Rhode Island the
surname Luther is very common.
Some years ago the mother of a prom
ising young Luther was exhibiting the
child's accomplishments for the edit
cation of the newly settled pastor.
'sAnd what is the name of your lit.
tie boy, Mrs. Luther?" asked the cler,
gyman.
Erasmus, sir.
Erasmus Luther! Your son should
have brilliant future, for his name
combines the names of two men Of
genius.
''Yes," said the gratifed mother
''we named him after his uncle 'Ras
mus. he was Selectman for ten years
up to Cumberland. "-BoSton Trans
cYi77t
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
How to Preserve the Hair.

A good supply of oxygen is neces-
sary for the healthy growth of hair;
the head should be we'll aired. The
hat has made sad havoc with many a
caput. Endeavor to go bareheaded as
often as possible. When walking, lift
the hat from off the head frequently,
and, if the sun is not too strong, hold
the hat in your hand while. The
bluecoat school-boys formerly of Christ
Church, London, who wear the cos
tune of Edward VI, 90 bareheaded
the year round. They wear no hats in
the coolest days of winter. They are
remarkably healthy, and have a redun-
dant crop of hair, which lasts them a
lifetime.
If we must wear hat let it be light
in texture and we'll ventilated from the
top. One reason that women keep
their hair longer than men is that their
head gear allows of better ventilation
Business men sometimes wear their
hats in their office, or have a special
hat which they put on. This is very
injurious. The brokers of Wall street
are noted for wearing their hats in
doors as we'll as outdoors. They are
notorious for having bald heads. This
may account for it. When the head
is well shorn of its locks this does not
apEiy.-NelU York Medical Journal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04

and Fox Hunts ard his conflicts
with bears. In one of the latter the
bear has broken the gun of the hunter
and risen on his hind legs to give him
the fatal hug, but the man buries his
knife in the entrails of the Infatuated
beast, and one wonders whether the
ripping up will be sufficient to release
him. In the fellow group the bear
has got an old man down, but his son
stands by with an AK in the act of de-
liyering avigorous blow at the brutes
head. Prof. Lieberich, the author of
these works, used to accompany the
late emperor in his hunting e1pedi.
tions, and to some of the stirring cpl
sodes represented in bronze he himself
has been an eyewitness. But war End
the chase are not the only sources of
inspiration; the Russian finds abundant
materials in the peaceful scenes and
movements of domestic life to EMPLOY
his modelling tool as well rs his pen
Gil. Indeed, like some nations whose
art-education is more advanced, the
Russian is apt to let the arts overlap
each other-that is, allow one branch
to overstep its own peculiar province
and trench on that of its neighbor.
A painting may be sculpturesque in
treatment, just as sculpture may be
pictorial. -Magaziq of Art.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Aged Poles.

Eyes" said South Side Polander,
yesterday, German people live to a
ripe old age, but | knew a woman in
Poland who lived to be older than any
German ever did. She was 1874 when
[ last heard of her, and doubtif any
one living on wine and beer, such as
most of the old Germans like. will
ever live to that age. Right here in
Milwaukee, or not far from the
southwesterly city limits-we have a
Polander who is 112. His name is
Kroeger. but he's Pole all the same,
and came to this country thirty years
ago. / rode in a carriage with him to
the funeral of q friend after he was
100 years old, but he laughed at the
remarks | made about his time to 60
drawing near. That was several years
ago. He has a son living on Sixth
avenue who is an old man. The old
fellow is working every day of his
life on small farm out on the Mus
kego road. He never drank beer or
wine, but uses tobacco q littie.-Mat-
,Cqukee Sentinel.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04

L wonder what women did before the
little, treacherous, reckless, pointed,
sharp pin was invented. If man
goes to the opera with his collar pinned
on or some portion of his simple attire
fastened in that way he spends night
in agony. He is afraid it will come
out and he's always putting his hand
up to the back of his neck to see if it's
all right. Then he strikes the point
sure and runs it into his finger. Then
he says -" gently under his breath
and turns to the opera again. But
woman has the most perfect confidence
in the little fastener and it really seems
to be steadtast and true to her. A
woman will 90 calmly into a room
with her whole outfit hanging on the
cOnstancy of a pin and she'll never
show the faintest sign of anxiety.
It's q great virtue, this confidence.
She'll sit a whole evening with the
sharp point sticking into the small of
her back, and smile and converse and
look happy. 1t is just such experience
as this that makes q woman so strong
in enduring the trials of life. She bears
so much discomfort for effect that she
is able to face all sorts of suffering
with fortitude. A man always carries
pin in the back of the lapel of his coat
or in the inside of his vest. What does
he carry it there for? | don't know,
but woman always asks for a pin
sometime and gets it away from him.
Then when he wants it himself sud
denly he finds it gone and he is mad
San Francisco Chronicle.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04

He rose and laughed, and lifted her
from the bench in his arms, and kissed
the questioning lips with such tender
ed Then he released her somewhat
hurriedly, for Judith's voice was call
ing her, and Judith's firm step was adj
vancing toward them; and, while the
slight figure sped away through the
silvery twilight, he re-lighted his CT
gar, and, smiling, sat under the vines
in the shimmering moonlight until the
quivering breath of the nigh wind
from the sea warned him into the
house.
Vance Vanceleigh strolled out to the
old trysting place on the cliff one
stormy evening to say good-by to Mar
garet. He was tired of his unevent-
full life by the sea, and the novelty of
flirting had began to pail on his taste,
so he was going away.
Margaret saw the changed express
sion in his eyes and wondered. Il
have to tell you [ am going away" he
said. 81 want to tell you how much /
have enjoyed our little Irritation
She stood and looked at him wild
eyed and pallid.
''Flirtationp' she muttered, nothing
but firtation!' but she dld not sob or
rave as he had expected.
''You will forget me quick enough, I
dare say" he said, laughing. ''At
leastyou will kiss me goodbye" hold
ing out his hand
E'Neverw she cried. ''And may God
forgive you the wrong you have done
me-"
She drew back to avoid him, uncon-
sci0us of the brink of the cliff. A
single cry and she had fallen into the
surging waters. He caught sight of
her white face III the boiling waters,
then it vanished. He was alone. At
that moment terrible flash of light
ming mingled with the storm, and he
fell blinded to the ground.
Nemesis had atlength overtaken Mr..
Vanceleigh. Until his death he saw
but one scene--the white face of his
victim as the moaning waters closed
over the golden head; for the flash
which had illuminated her drowning
form had quenched forever in him the
glorious blessing of vision, and, blind
and alone, with a haunting horror of
that scene ever before him, he wan
ders through foreign lands seeking, but
vainly, for the bliss which he should
never know -forgetfulness.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
One Dose Was Enough.

A prominent physician, who has
since died, once wrote a prescription
for a powerful liniment. He was
noted among the druggists for his
chirography. He had large practice,
and often wrote in such haste that it
was difficult to read his prescriptions.
The directions written upon the above
mentioned .'recipe" were, apply To-
cally as directed" The clerk read it,
Take a teaspoonful three times daily"
The patient took only one se.--Har-
per's Magazine
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Betrayed by the Parrot.

A well-dressed woman left a pet
parrot in a Norwich drug store for a
Short tine Thursday while she did
some shopping. She had not got out
of sight before the bird eyed the pro-
prietor of the shop and let out a
double barreled oath. which preceded
YOU" and said: III break your
headr' 1t became apparent at once
that the bird had been reared in q
family where the addresses were brief,
personal. and emphatic in character,
and had not received much religious
training. -N0racich Bulletin.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Separation.

Along the eastern shore the low waves creep
Making a ceaseless music on the sand
A song that gulls and curlews understand,
The lullaby that sings the day to sleep.
A thousand miles afar, the grim pines keep
Unending watch upon a shoreless land,
Yet through their tops swept bysome wizard
hand,
The sound of surf comes singing up the steep
Sweet, thou canst hear the tidal ltany;
j, mid the pines land-wearied, may but
dream
OF the far shore; but through the distance
seem
Between us fixed, impossible, to me
Cometh thy souls voice, chanting loves ole
theme,
And mine doth answer, as the pines the sea.
Ellen Burroughs.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
The Crow.

He niver plants, but he always rapes,
"A careful watch from the tree he kapes;
He's at work in tn field whin tn farmer
shapes.
hin tn blush o. spring is on tn corn,
tn Crane blades wave in the breezy morn,
laughs tn scarecrow there t scorn.
o'He says, when the farmer crosses lot:
while I'm full o corn, / m not full o. shot;
And diviPs tn hair O. we but I'll spot.
"Like polished stone shines his jacket nate;
He flaps in the air. and he's light on his fate:
Wild his he'd full o. fun an his skim full O.
mate.
"He can't sail like tn hawk up a'gin tn blue
sky,
But, then, be me sowl, he's exceedingly fly,
Fur he'll steal yer TEASPOONS while ye're
winkin yer eye.
He can't COO as soft as tn brown turtle dove,
his vice wasn't med t be singing o love;
But yell hear him cav as he's flynn above"
Amos 4. Cummings.